Modeling of Two-phase Flow and Boiling

with FLUENT
by
Nilanjana Basu, Andrey Troshko, and Greg Nurnberg
Fluent Inc.
Lebanon, New Hampshire
www.fluent.com

Presented at RELAP5 UGM, West Yellowstone, Montana

July 27, 2003
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Outline

FLUENT & RELAP5-3D Coupling

Multiphase models in FLUENT

Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT

Summary

FLUENT & RELAP5-3D Coupling

Advantages

Model entire system using 1

dimensional features of RELAP53D

Model some components of the

system in detail using the 3
dimensional features of FLUENT

Both the system and component

behavior is more accurately
predicted

Boundary condition information

is transferred back and forth
between the two codes

FLUENT & RELAP5-3D Coupling (contd.)

Some key modeling capabilities in FLUENT to be utilized:
Turbulence
Two-phase flow
Flow through packed bed
Neutronics-fluid interaction in the core region

Focus of this presentation: Two-phase flow

Multiphase models in FLUENT

Discrete Phase Model (DPM)

Mixture Model
Volume of Fluid Model (VOF)
Eulerian Multiphase Flow Model

Multiphase models in FLUENT (contd.)

Discrete Phase Model (DPM)

Trajectories of particles/droplets/bubbles are computed in a Lagrangian

frame.
Particles can exchange heat, mass, and momentum with the
continuous gas phase.
Particle-Particle interaction is neglected.
Turbulent dispersion can be modeled with stochastic tracking or a
particle cloud model.

Volume loading: volume fraction < 12%)

Particulate Loading: Low to moderate.

Application examples: Cyclones, spray dryers, particle separation and

classification, aerosol dispersion, liquid fuel and coal combustion. etc.

Multiphase models in FLUENT (contd.)

The Mixture Model
Modeling N-phase flows.
Solves the mixture momentum equation (for mass-averaged
mixture velocity)
Inter-phase exchange terms depend on relative (slip) velocities
Turbulence and Energy equations are solved for the mixture
Only one of the phases may be defined as compressible.
Solves the transport equation of volume fraction for each
secondary phase.

Multiphase models in FLUENT (contd.)

Applicability of Mixture Model

Flow regime:

Bubbly flow, droplet flow, slurry flow.

Volume loading:

Dilute to moderately dense.

Particulate Loading:

Low to moderate.

Turbulence modeling: Weak coupling between phases.

Stokes Number:

Stokes Number < < 1.

Application examples: Hydrocyclones, bubble column reactors, solid

suspensions, gas sparging.

Multiphase models in FLUENT (contd.)

The Volume of Fluid Model (VOF)
Model to track the position of the interface between two or more
immiscible fluids.
A single momentum equation is solved and the resulting velocity
field is shared by all phases.
Surface tension and wall adhesion effects can be taken into
account.
Solves transport equation for volume fraction of each secondary
phase.
Recommended that simulation be performed in unsteady mode.

Multiphase models in FLUENT (contd.)

Applicability of VOF Model

Flow regime:

Slug flow, stratified/free-surface flow.

Volume loading:

Dilute to dense.

Particulate Loading: Low to high.

Turbulence modeling: Weak to moderate coupling

between phases.

Stokes Number:

All ranges of Stokes number.

Application examples:Large slug flows, filling, off-shore oil tank

sloshing, boiling, coating.

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Multiphase models in FLUENT (contd.)

The Eulerian Multiphase Model
Solves continuity, momentum and energy equations for each phase.
Volume fractions characterize equation set for each phase.
Several models available to define inter-phase exchange
coefficients.
Strong coupling makes this model more difficult to use than
Mixture Model.
Euler Granular option: each granular phase is treated as a distinct
interpenetrating granular fluid.
Heat and mass transfer between n-phases: Ranz-Marshall
(Euler/Euler), Gunn (Euler/granular) and user-defined models.

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Multiphase models in FLUENT (contd.)

Applicability of Eulerian model

Flow regime:

Bubbly flow, droplet flow, slurry flow,

fluidized beds, particle-laden flow.

Volume loading:

Dilute to dense.

Particulate Loading:

Low to high.

Turbulence modeling: Weak to strong coupling between

phases.

Stokes Number:

All ranges of Stokes number.

Application examples: High particle loading flows, slurry flows,

sedimentation, hydro-transport, fluidized beds, risers, packed bed
reactors.
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Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT
Advanced Pressurized Reactor

The Advanced Pressurized

Reactor is light water reactor
being designed

The In-containment Refueling

Water Storage Tank (IRWST) is
passive safety system for heat
removal

During a small break loss of

coolant accident (SBLOCA) it
allows steam to cool in a pool of
water and escape through vents
at the top

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Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Advanced Pressurized Reactor

FLUENT is used to simulate the 2phase flow in the IRWST

The mixture is injected through a

sparger

The Eulerian multiphase model

allows for separate transport
equations for
liquid (water)
vapor (steam)

The 2D model makes use of a

porous region to allow only vapor to
exit through most of the top
boundary
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Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Advanced Pressurized Reactor

Steady-state simulations are

performed for different
bubble sizes and vapor
volume fraction

For 1mm bubbles and 40%

vapor at the inlet, most
vapor escapes but some is
entrained in recirculation in
the water near the side of
the vessel

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Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Advanced Pressurized Reactor

For 100mm bubbles and 10%

vapor at the inlet the flow is very
different

Larger buoyant forces cause

steam to rise and escape quickly

Results suggest that FLUENT is

well suited to assist in the design
of these systems

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Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Subcooled Nucleate Boiling
RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute)
model of wall heat flux partitioning1
Wall heat flux

Wall heat flux =

Single phase heat flux
+ Quenching heat flux
+ Evaporation heat flux
Tw

Implemented as a source term in

energy equation

Tsat
Tbulk

1Kurul,

A user-defined function (UDF) in

FLUENT includes temperature-driven
heat and mass transfer between
phases1

N., and Podowski, M. Z., 9th Int. Heat Trans.

Conf. Jerusalem, p. 21-16, 1990.
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Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)

Subcooled Nucleate Boiling

An annular domain, with heated inner wall is simulated

FLUENT 6.1 is used to simulate this process for three sets of
experimental conditions2 (below)

User-defined functions are used with the Eulerian

multiphase model to implement the RPI model1 for

Parameter

EXP 1
2

Inner wall heat flux, W/m

EXP 2

EXP 3

80,000 95,000 116,000

2

Fluid mass velocity, kg/m /sec 565

785

785

Mean liquid subcooling at test

30.3

30.3

37.8

section inlet, C
2

Roy, R. P., Velidandla, V., and Kalra, S. P., ASME J. Heat Trans. 119, 754-766
(1997).

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Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Subcooled Nucleate Boiling

Radial profiles of vapor void fraction

prediction

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Temperature predictions are in

acceptable

Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Boiling flow in nuclear reactor
Liquid vapor mixture
exits

Flow in nuclear fuel

assembly

Pressure 50 atm
Reliq=300,000
Heat flux 0.522 MW/m2
Inlet subcooling 4.5 K
y+=100

Liquid enters

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Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Boiling flow in nuclear reactor
Condensation or evaporation at surface of bubbles in free
stream
Turbulent dispersion of bubbles if liquid flow is turbulent
Additional turbulence created by bubbles
Modified lift force to account for vortex shedding by bubbles

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Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Boiling flow in nuclear reactor
0.6

Wall temperature is defined

by bisection method from
flux partitioning
~3-4 hours to get converged
solution on 2GHz CPU
80,000 cells

0.5
Void fraction

0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.2

Axial distance, m

Comparison with experiment for vapor

void fraction

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1.4

Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Film boiling
Using VOF modeling in Fluent
P=Psat, T=Tsat
1/ 2

0 = 2
( )g
g
y
l

30
2

symmetry

symmetry

liquid
vapor

Wall
T=Tsat+10K
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= 0.0778m

Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Film boiling
Animation

Contours of volume
fraction of the vapor

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Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Film boiling

Velocity
Mass transfer rate,
kg/m3/sec

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Boiling and two-phase flow Case studies

with FLUENT (contd.)
Film boiling
Berensons correlation

Mean Nusselt number Nu =

Mean void fraction

Time, sec
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q 0

kl (Twall Tsat )

Summary
Case studies of nucleate boiling and film boiling
with FLUENT have been presented.
These case studies demonstrate that FLUENT can
successfully model two-phase flow and boiling.
Two-phase modeling capabilities will enhance
Reactor thermal hydraulic study using FLUENTRELAP5 coupling

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